Page 97 of When Darkness Calls

“You’re fucking nuts,” Marcus screeches, leaning back in the chair. Keegan comes up behind him, pushing the chair back onto its four legs.

“Yeah, I might be, but what can you do?” Nick shrugs, a sadistic smirk on his face.

“Alright guys,” Keegan cuts in, leaning over Marcus’s shoulder. “We just want to know what you know, Marcus. How do you know Jerry?”

“Jerry? What about him?”

“We just want to know how you know him.” I say calmly.

“He, uh, he used to work at my school.”

I nod.

Seems about right.

“So, Marcus,” Keegan says, walking around to crouch in front of him. “Are you a dealer or a runner?”

“What?”

“Listen, I have had a long day. Are you a dealer or a runner?” Keegan asks him with a pointed look.

“I—I, um, runner? I did pick-ups for him. It was only a couple times—”

“Okay, thank you. We’re getting somewhere. Did you run them to the dealers from Jerry, or did you pick up from the supplier?”

“Pick up. I picked up. Hey man. I swear I don’t do that shit, okay? My mom was in that shit. Started with pills when I was ten. I swore I would never touch that stuff. I just needed the extra cash. I work some nights and weekends as security at the lumber yard in Blackwoods. I take care of my sister and my grandma.” Marcus pleads. I can see the moisture pooling in his eyes.

“Hey, calm down,” Keegan puts a hand on his arm. “Breathe. We won’t hurt you unless you make it so we have to. You’re twenty-two?”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

“Do you go to school?”

Marcus nods. “Social work. I want to be someone kids like me can go to.”

“That’s good, Marcus. That’s really good.” Keegan mutters standing.

“So, you run for Jerry, picking up from his supplier. Where do you usually meet?”

Marcus looks between us again, his body trembles in the restraints. His black hair is matted from sweat.

“It was different each time. I met him at the storage yard about a month ago. Before that was this gas station outside Tennabris.”

“Okay. Okay. When is the next pick up? Do you know? Has anyone contacted you for a job?” I speak up, crouching where Keegan was.

“Yeah—yeah. In a couple weeks. It was someone else. It wasn’t Jerry. They said it’d be the storage yard again, but in a different part. A few of my friends said they usually have fights there. I can tell you everything, please. Just please don’t hurt my sister.” He sobs, looking frantic.

“No, Marcus. We aren’t gonna do anything to your sister. Thank you for helping us. We’ll let you go soon. We just have one more question,” Keegan says from behind me.

I look at the guy. He’s pretty much a guy just like us, dealt a bad hand and is just trying to do what he can to survive.

“A few weeks ago, there was a news report of a girl who was raped and murdered—”

He rears back, choking on his breath. “I didn’t do that! I swear to God!”

“Hey, calm down. We believe you.” Keegan shushes.

“The girl was with her friend who was abducted. A few nights ago, another girl was abducted, seen inside a dark gray van. Know anything about that?” I question.